5 Fun Facts You Should Know About Bleach

Back in August 2001, Weekly Shonen Jump first published Bleach, and Tite Kubo’s supernatural story went on to change the manga game. The action-packed series shot up in popularity, leaving fans worldwide enamored with Ichigo Kurosaki’s shinigami stories. These days, Bleach‘s manga and anime stand as all-time favorites amongst fans around the world. It’s fantastical world-building, gag humor, and intense action made it a must-watch franchise for many. But, if you think you know everything about the series, then think again.

Here at ComicBook, we are giving you the low-down on all things Bleach. If you want to impress your anime friends with some Soul Society trivia, then this is the place to brush up your education. In the slides below, you can check out some fun facts about Bleach that would make even Kon squee. So, if you’re ready to power up your reiat

If you are not familiar with Bleach, then you can always take time to catch-up. Created by Tite Kubo, the manga was first published in 2001 by Weekly Shōnen Jump. Since its release, Bleach has become one of the most popular mangas in history as it still ranks as a best-selling series in both Japan and the U.S. Bleach has sold over 84 million copies in Japan alone, and the series has gone on to spawn spin-off media with its popular anime, video games, films, musicals, and tons of licensed merchandise.

You can read Viz Media’s synopsis of Bleach below:

“Ichigo Kurosaki never asked for the ability to see ghosts—he was born with the gift. When his family is attacked by a Hollow—a malevolent lost soul—Ichigo becomes a Soul Reaper, dedicating his life to protecting the innocent and helping the tortured spirits themselves find peace.”

Bleach is author Tite Kubo’s second title. Kubo made his debut with ZOMBIEPOWDER., a four-volume series for Weekly Shonen Jump. To date, Bleach has been translated into numerous languages and has also inspired an animated TV series that began airing in Japan in 2004. Beginning its serialization in 2001, Bleach is still a mainstay in the pages of Weekly Shonen Jump. In 2005, Bleach was awarded the prestigious Shogakukan Manga Award in the shonen (boys) category.

Rukia Was Originally Bleach’s Main Character

When Tite Kubo first thought up Bleach, the story was very different. The series was initially going to be titled ‘Snipe’ and its main character wasn’t Ichigo. Instead, the artist felt that Rukia should be the main protagonist. Kubo drew up the character and envisioned her wielding a scythe while all the other characters carried guns. Part of this design was eventually scene in Bleach when the film Bleach: Fade to Black made its debut.

Bleach Was Rejected By Shonen Jump At First

Weekly Shonen Jump is the big-name publisher in Japan which houses most shonen titles, but it almost missed out on Bleach. Tite Kubo originally had his pitch for Bleach denied by the magazine as the publication already had a full schedule. However, a mentor to Kubo stepped in and encouraged him to keep trying. Akira Toriyama, the creator of Dragon Ball, penned a letter asking Kubo to continue on with Bleach. So, if you are a fan of the series, then you have Toriyama to thank.

Kon Has A Really Sad Backstory

In Bleach, there are few characters who are as loud and overtly perverted as Kon. The stuffed animal houses the substitute souls which Ichigo uses whenever he ditches his human form to become a shinigami. While Kon may be eccentric in the anime, Tite Kubo has said the animal’s origin is a sad one. The creator chose to draw up the character after he watched a young boy throw away a cheap stuffed animal. Apparently, the kid’s father didn’t pony up for a more expensive toy which made the boy angry. As such, Kon was introduced to Bleach as a substitute soul selected for elimination, but Ichigo wound up giving the brat a new lease on life.

One Character’s Name Was Changed To Avoid Controversy

Out of all the females in Bleach, Yoruichi continues to be a fan-favorite. As a former Soul Society captain, the shinigami is a force to be reckoned with, and her longtime friendship with Kisuke Urahara is enough to make anyone declare squad goals. However, when Tite Kubo was trying to name the exotic character, he decided a change of name was needed. At first, the character bore the name Yoruichi Shihouin Kuroneko which means ‘Black Cat’ in Japanese. Kubo felt the name might spur a racial debate given the character’s POC nature. As such, he simply shorted her name to Yoruichi.

The Name Bleach Was Picked Very Carefully

If you have ever wondered why Bleach is called such, then you don’t have to guess for long. Tite Kubo chose the name Bleach because contrasts with the black color which shinigami wear. The title is also meant to allude to yin and yang because of the black-and-white motif. Kubo hoped the phrase would be seen as a rebellious one that prefaces Ichigo’s delinquent nature. So, no – the anime’s name has nothing to do with Ichigo and his orange-blonde hair.